1. I don’t want to get on a soapbox, but…

First we had ESPN showing us, with multiple camera angles and thousands of replays, what happens when an offensive lineman misses a block and how it can create a legend.

Now we have CBS, late to the party but charging fast, with one camera following one player for an entire game.

And you people wonder why college athletes have an entitled attitude.

You wonder why they think a full scholarship and academic tutoring, elite training and coaching, healthcare and personal nutritionists, aren’t a fair trade for playing a game.

A game.

Here’s who I blame: television—the very thing that has allowed college football to grow to unthinkable proportions.

It begins with this nonsensical dance of players sitting at a table in their high school gym with a set of hats on the table, and a television bobblehead giddily proclaiming—in his best Price Is Right voice—“OK, tell everyone where you’re going to school!”

And then this 18-year-old young man—who more than likely has been enabled through formative years because he could play a game better than anyone else—looks in the camera and say’s he’ll “take his talents” to State U.

Yeah, I don’t know why, when players run afoul of the law, their first words are “don’t you know who I am?”

Think about this thought process: let them reach for the lowest common denominator all of their life, then be absolutely shocked when they haul off and punch a man in the head—and gloat about it.

Let them reach for the lowest common denominator all of their life, then watch as they sign thousands of autographs for a broker, deny they accepted money, have their university fight for their eligibility knowing all along something doesn’t jibe, and then act like the enabled, spoiled microcosm of it all they’ve become.

After all that, CBS decides, yeah, we want in, too. You can almost hear the producer of Saturday’s Texas A&M-Alabama game now: “Dance, Johnny, dance!”

And somewhere, around a roundtable of uncomfortable stuffed-shirt decision-makers, ESPN wishes they thought of it first.

2. Here comes the boom

When Alabama steps on the field Saturday in College Station, Tide coach Nick Saban will have had 249 days to prepare for Johnny Manziel.

I’m just saying.

Texas gave up 550 rushing yards to BYU last week. (AP Photo)

3. There’s a lot of green left in that putt

From Gainesville to Los Angeles and South Bend to Austin, championship dreams were crushed last week. Or at least severely damaged.

And we’re only two weeks into this wild ride.

If you think one loss was bad for those with huge expectations, it’s only going to get worse for these four heavyweights:

Notre Dame

What went wrong: It’s easy to jump on the Turnover Tommy bandwagon, but where in the world was that star-studded, full of NFL draft picks front four? They certainly weren’t affecting the quarterback in a 41-30 loss to Michigan, and got a huge break when Wolverines QB Devin Gardner gifted a pick six.

The fix: It begins with tackling better, smarter play at linebacker and a more aggressive approach in the secondary. Stop whining about Everett Golson, Irish fans. He can’t play defense.

Chances of winning a championship: None—not with a schedule that includes Arizona State, Stanford and Oklahoma.

What went wrong: The same thing that has gone wrong since 2010: Texas is soft. That’s right, I said it: soft. Mentally and physically soft; a finesse team that wilts when faced with adversity. You have to really work hard if you’re Texas, and you’ve got the athletes Texas has on defense, to give up that astoundingly poor performance against the Cougars.

The fix: Well, it’s not Greg Robinson. Maybe the best idea is to look at the other side of the ball. Somehow, with a huge offensive line, three talented tailbacks—Malcolm Brown, Jonathan Gray and Joe Bergeron—have rushed for less yards than quarterback David Ash, who isn’t necessarily the swiftest of foot. Line up, play Maul Ball, dictate tempo and hope for the best.

Chances of winning a championship: Non-existent. At this point, it’s week to week with the Longhorns. Lose this weekend to Ole Miss, and it gets ugly, quickly.

USC

What went wrong: Lane Kiffin is coaching scared. Forget what AD Pat Haden said this offseason; it’s obvious Kiffin is coaching not to lose. Even with problems at quarterback, you don’t take the most dynamic player in college football (WR Marqise Lee) out of the game by not getting him involved. Kiffin should have given up play calling (like he initially said he would in the offseason) to concentrate more on big picture and avoid the obvious: coaching (see: play calling) to avoid getting fired.

The fix: Screw it, now. You’re the play caller, so call a game like you’ve got nothing to lose. Call it like you’re going to get fired, anyway. And while you’re at it, since you still have issues at quarterback, play freshman Max Browne. He can’t possibly be much worse than Cody Kessler and Max Wittek. Bonus: if it works, you’re a genius—and you might just keep your job.

Chances of winning a championship: It’s a long shot. USC still has as much or more talent than anyone in the Pac-12 South Division, and with a few breaks—and one of three quarterbacks seizing opportunity—could win a division title. But that’s where it ends. The Trojans aren’t anywhere near the class of Stanford and Oregon.

Florida

What went wrong: The same thing that has plagued Florida since last season: no confidence in the passing game. QB Jeff Driskel was awful; there’s no other way around it. The Gators had three turnovers in the red zone and wasted a magnificent performance from what could be the best defense in the nation.

The fix: We saw the fix in coach Will Muschamp’s press conference: protect Driskel’s shaky confidence at all cost. Muschamp actually blamed his defense—if you can believe that—for giving Miami early momentum. The loss was all on Driskel; there’s no other way around it. Until he stops making poor decisions, Florida can’t win big games.

Chances of winning a championship: Slim. Look, Driskel could defy odds and stop forcing poor throws. And the staff could finally open up the offense and use a couple of talented freshman receivers. Or they’ll do what they do: run the ball, rely on a wicked defense and hope Driskel doesn’t implode again.

4. “Maybe you could help me on this three-team parlay I’ve got going Sunday …”

5. “Ever spot a beautiful girl in the crowd—say, a brunette in a crimson shirt—and, you know, start dropping inappropriate rhymes?”

Butch Jones has the Vols off to a quick start, but have you seen the upcoming games? (AP Photo)

6. Big Orange gauntlet

So Tennessee is 2-0, and those on Rocky Top are feeling pretty good about a program that fired a beloved coach, hired a renegade, hired an attorney posing as a coach, and lost half a decade in the process.

And now, after hiring a coach who inspires hope, there is this: consecutive games at Oregon, at Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, at Alabama.

Rocky Top you’ll always be,

Chasing in the SEC.

Good ol Rocky Top,

Rocky Top Tennessee.

7. The last days

It’s at this point in the program when we feel the need to remind everyone that Mack Brown is making $5.35 million a year.

For what, you ask? This: 15 years, two Big 12 championships, one national championship.

And a whole lot of woulda, coulda, shoulda.

I ask you, what other coach in college football—at any other mega program—would still be employed with a .133 batting average (2 championships in 15 years)?

What other coach would still be employed with a career 6-9 record against his bitter rival (Oklahoma), including three losses when giving up at least 63 points?

I like Mack Brown; he’s a good man and good coach. Don’t feel sorry for him; he doesn’t.

Because if he were any other coach at any other mega program, he’d already be fired.

8. Lost on the field, lost on the sidelines

Excuse me, fellas? When ya’ll are done dancing, can one of you figure out where Jadeveon Clowney has gone?

Thanks in advance.

9. The Sic’em secret

Look, I know what you’re thinking. The last thing you remember about Baylor was the Bears single-handily elevating Geno Smith to everyone’s lock for the Heisman Trophy.

Now I want you to peruse the Baylor schedule and considering what we now know about trio of QB Bryce Petty, TB Lache Seastrunk and WR Tevin Reese, tell me who beats the Bears?

Because while Ohio State jumped to an early lead on Buffalo and then had to fight off the MAC middling in the second half, Baylor merely blitzkrieged the Bulls, scoring 56 points in the first half and winning 70-13.

“They are deserving to be in the top five right now in my opinion,” said Buffalo coach Jeff Quinn. “I felt good about last week’s game against Ohio State, but this week we weren’t even close to the way I felt we would hold up against Baylor.”

There’s still time, people. And plenty of room on the bus.

10. Hot commodity

If you’re Al Golden, don’t you at least wait until after Texas and/or USC makes a move before signing that extension Miami is trying to put together?